Marine power generation and engine cooling

Abstract

An on-board marine electrical power generator ( 14 ) containing a conventional four-stroke, water-cooled outboard motor engine ( 50 ) coupled to an alternator ( 52 ) upon a transportable frame ( 44 ) suitable for mounting on-board a boat. In one embodiment, the crankshaft ( 60 ) of the engine extends vertically and is coupled to a vertically oriented rotor ( 72 ) of the alternator, either directly or laterally spaced from the engine shaft. In another embodiment, the engine is modified for operation with its crankshaft extending horizontally. The physical size of the overall package is advantageously within a range suitable for installation on pleasure boats, even below deck.

1. A marine electrical power generator mounted inside the hull of a boat, the generator comprising
 a four-stroke, water-cooled engine with a vertically-oriented drive shaft and an exhaust system including an exhaust riser extending to above a water line of the hull; 
 a permanent magnet alternator with a cup-shaped rotor mounted at one end of the engine drive shaft to produce electricity; and 
 a transportable frame upon which the engine and alternator are mounted, the platform defining mounting points securing the generator inside the boat hull; 
 wherein the rotor carries an arrangement of permanent magnets attached to an inner circumferential surface of the rotor; 
 wherein the generator is mounted below a deck of the boat. 
 
   
   
     2. The generator of  claim 1  further comprising an enclosure surrounding the engine and alternator. 
   
   
     3. The generator of  claim 1  wherein the alternator includes a stationary, wound stator responsive to the moving magnetic fields generated by the rotor and packaged within the rotating rotor. 
   
   
     4. The generator of  claim 1  wherein the engine comprises an engine designed for use in a vertical shaft configuration in outboard marine motors. 
   
   
     5. The generator of  claim 1  having an overall height of less than about 12 inches. 
   
   
     6. A marine electrical power generator mounted inside the hull of a boat, the generator comprising
 a four-stroke, water-cooled engine with a vertically-oriented drive shaft and an exhaust system including an exhaust riser extending to above a water line of the hull; 
 a permanent magnet alternator with a cup-shaped rotor mounted at one end of the engine drive shaft to produce electricity; and 
 a transportable frame upon which the engine and alternator are mounted, the platform defining mounting points securing the generator inside the boat hull; 
 wherein the rotor carries an arrangement of permanent magnets attached to an inner circumferential surface of the rotor 
 wherein weight and position of the magnets are selected to balance firing impulses and radial accelerations of the engine and its rotating components. 
 
   
   
     7. A marine electrical power generator mounted inside the hull of a boat, the generator comprising
 a four-stroke, water-cooled engine with a vertically-oriented drive shaft and an exhaust system including an exhaust riser extending to above a water line of the hull; 
 a permanent magnet alternator with a cup-shaped rotor mounted at one end of the engine drive shaft to produce electricity; and 
 a transportable frame upon which the engine and alternator are mounted, the platform defining mounting points securing the generator inside the boat hull; 
 wherein the rotor carries an arrangement of permanent magnets attached to an inner circumferential surface of the rotor 
 a seawater pump mounted on another end of the engine drive shaft. 
 
   
   
     8. A marine electrical power generator mounted inside the hull of a boat, the generator comprising
 a four-stroke, water-cooled engine with a vertically-oriented drive shaft and an exhaust system including an exhaust riser extending to above a water line of the hull; 
 a permanent magnet alternator with a cup-shaped rotor mounted at one end of the engine drive shaft to produce electricity; and 
 a transportable frame upon which the engine and alternator are mounted, the platform defining mounting points securing the generator inside the boat hull; 
 wherein the rotor carries an arrangement of permanent magnets attached to an inner circumferential surface of the rotor; 
 wherein the generator has an overall height of less than about 15 inches. 
 
   
   
     9. A method of producing electrical power on-board a boat, the method comprising
 attaching a crankshaft of an outboard motor engine to an electrical generator with a permanent magnet alternator having a cup-shaped rotor mounted at one end of the engine drive shaft carrying an arrangement of permanent magnets attached to an inner circumference of the alternator; 
 mounting the engine and generator below the deck of a boat; 
 running the engine to produce electrical power; and 
 directing electrical power from the generator to a remote electrical load. 
 
   
   
     10. An on-board marine electric power generator comprising:
 a four-stroke, water-cooled engine with a vertically-oriented drive shaft and an exhaust system including an exhaust riser extending to above a water line of the hull of a boat; 
 an alternator with a vertically oriented rotor coupled for rotation with the engine drive shaft to produce electricity and laterally spaced from the engine shaft; and 
 a transportable frame upon which the engine and alternator are mounted in side-by-side relation; 
 wherein the generator is mounted below a deck of the boat. 
 
   
   
     11. The generator of  claim 10  wherein the exhaust rise extends to an exhaust outlet disposed on the hull. 
   
   
     12. The generator of  claim 10  further comprising an enclosure surrounding the engine and alternator. 
   
   
     13. The generator of  claim 10  wherein the alternator includes a stationary, wound stator responsive to the moving magnetic fields generated by the rotor and packaged within the rotating rotor. 
   
   
     14. The generator of  claim 10  wherein the engine comprises an engine designed for use in a vertical shaft configuration in outboard marine motors. 
   
   
     15. The generator of  claim 10  having an overall height of less than about 12 inches. 
   
   
     16. An on-board marine electric power generator comprising:
 a four-stroke, water-cooled engine with a vertically-oriented drive shaft and an exhaust system including an exhaust riser extending to above a water line of the hull; 
 an alternator with a vertically oriented rotor coupled for rotation with the engine drive shaft to produce electricity and laterally spaced from the engine shaft; and 
 a transportable frame upon which the engine and alternator are mounted in side-by-side relation; 
 wherein weight and position of the magnets are selected to balance firing impulses and radial accelerations of the engine and its rotating components. 
 
   
   
     17. An on-board marine electric power generator comprising:
 a four-stroke, water-cooled engine with a vertically-oriented drive shaft and an exhaust system including an exhaust riser extending to above a water line of the hull; 
 an alternator with a vertically oriented rotor coupled for rotation with the engine drive shaft to produce electricity and laterally spaced from the engine shaft; 
 a transportable frame upon which the engine and alternator are mounted in side-by-side relation; and 
 a seawater pump mounted on another end of the engine drive shaft. 
 
   
   
     18. An on-board marine electric power generator comprising:
 a four-stroke, water-cooled engine with a vertically-oriented drive shaft and an exhaust system including an exhaust riser extending to above a water line of the hull; 
 an alternator with a vertically oriented rotor coupled for rotation with the engine drive shaft to produce electricity and laterally spaced from the engine shaft; and 
 a transportable frame upon which the engine and alternator are mounted in side-by-side relation; 
 wherein the generator has an overall height of less than about 15 inches.